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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Upper Limits To The Outflow Of Ions At Mars: Implications For Atmospheric Evolution, Jane L. Fox
Upper Limits To The Outflow Of Ions At Mars: Implications For Atmospheric Evolution, Jane L. Fox
Physics Faculty Publications
Escape of ions is potentially important for the evolution of volatiles on Mars, but the mechanisms and rates of ion escape processes are not fully understood. Instruments on the Russian Phobos 2 orbiter have, however, measured fluxes of heavy ions apparently of ionospheric origin in the optical shadow of Mars. These ions are assumed to arise from escape processes induced by the interaction of the solar wind with the ionosphere. We determine here upper limits to the ion loss rates by imposing upward flux boundary conditions on models of the low and high solar activity Mars ionosphere. The maximum fluxes …
Hydrocarbon Ions In The Ionosphere Of Titan, Jane L. Fox, Roger V. Yelle
Hydrocarbon Ions In The Ionosphere Of Titan, Jane L. Fox, Roger V. Yelle
Physics Faculty Publications
We have constructed a new model of the ionosphere of Titan that includes 67 species and 626 reactions. Although N2+ is the major ion produced over most of the ionosphere, the ionization flows to ions whose parent neutrals have lower ionization potentials and to ions formed from species with large proton affinities. In contrast to other models, which have predicted that HCNH+ should be the major ion, our calculations suggest that the major ions at and below the ion peak are hydrocarbon ions, and H, C, and N-containing ions. Our predicted peak electron density for a solar …